The impact varies with the individual. For some, social anxiety is limited to a very specific kind of performance, such as giving a speech or playing a musical instrument for an audience. For others, the anxiety is much more generalized and can prevent them from eating in public restaurants or using public lavatories. It can interfere with education and affect building and maintaining friendships or romantic relationships.

Why is this considered a disease and not just one of many different kinds of normal personalities?

The answer lies in the severe effects social phobia can have on everyday functioning. People with generalized social phobia are not just a little nervous. Their lives are dictated by the need to either avoid certain situations or endure them with extreme anxiety.

When is the earliest in life that a person might display symptoms of social phobia?

Various studies have shown that up to 10 percent of children may have a shy and anxious predisposition from earliest childhood. Whether these are the people who go on to develop social phobia remains to be answered. Most studies of social phobia have indicated that the average age of disorder onset is in the teenage years.

Can social phobia just go away by itself?

Generally not in most people. Social phobia is generally viewed as a chronic condition requiring intervention. Some people can conquer it on their own if they develop the appropriate skills. In most cases, however, professional assistance is recommended.

Are there any diagnostic tests for social phobia?

Social phobia cannot be detected through a blood sample or an X-ray. Instead, it is diagnosed based on information provided to a physician or therapist during a clinical interview.

Does social phobia run in families?

Having a family member with social phobia appears to heighten one’s risk slightly for developing it. The family influence appears to be related to both genetic and environmental sources.

Can social phobia be prevented?

Because scientists are still striving to determine what causes the disorder, they do not know how to prevent social phobia. Mental health professionals urge people who suspect they have a problem to seek treatment right away. With early intervention, there is hope that as quality-of-life improves, some of the problems related to social phobia can be avoided or reduced. People with social phobia, for example, are at an increased risk of alcoholism. With proper medication and cognitive-behavioral therapy, the use of alcohol as self-medication may be prevented.